10-Foot Crocodile Lurks in Mentawai Lineup, Terrifying Surfers (Video)

Daly, of the Indies Trader surf boat fame, wrote:

“Just arrived in the Mentawai, been a fun "off season" kinda strange to see all the pack of charter boats, still fun though. I'd hate to see the Croc that bit the leg off this 3 meter plus ole boy we spotted a week or so ago. I guess they have always been around but now we have drones!”

So, these saltwater crocs do occasionally make their way into the lineup. Although this one appears to be in some brackish water shallows.

Per National Geographic:

“Earth’s largest living crocodilian—and, some say, the animal most likely to eat a human—is the saltwater or estuarine crocodile. Average-size males reach 17 feet and 1,000 pounds, but specimens 23 feet long and weighing 2,200 pounds are not uncommon.”

Freaky. And their habitat? Again, Nat Geo:

“Saltwater crocs, or ‘salties,’ as Australians affectionately refer to them, have an enormous range, populating the brackish and freshwater regions of eastern India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. They are excellent swimmers and have often been spotted far out at sea.”

Yeah, that includes the Mentawai.

And it’s not the first time, either. Last year, Daly posted another video of a croc swimming through a lineup in the Ments, captioning the clip:

“Rumours of crocs at one of my most favourite waves that I’ve been surfing for over 40 years are rumours no longer. Big fella has been there for quite a while, saw another only slightly smaller one last year at a nearby break. First we’ve seen here , surfing with apex predators is not optimal , they have left us alone up until now but…..”

The peak season for surfing in the Mentawais is April through October, just FYI. So, if you happen to finally take your dream trip to surfing’s most coveted paradise, keep your eyes peeled…and maybe your toes up whilst waiting for the next set.